I dominated the game from the start with cards.

The smell of blood filled the air, and the mark on Li Xuan's fingertip seemed to still radiate an eerie heat. The Infinite Flow Space—a term previously only heard of in legends—was now a reality before them. Could the destruction of their sect be related to this? A chill ran up his spine, and Li Xuan gripped his broken sword tightly. "The Infinite Flow Space…do we really have to go in?" Mu Yang's voice held a hint of hesitation as he looked at Li Xuan, his eyes filled with worry. Li Xuan took a deep breath, his gaze resolute. "We must go in! Only then can we find the truth and avenge our sect!" The mark led them to a large door shimmering with a strange light. The door was entirely black, its surface flowing with a liquid-like light, as if leading to another world. A strange energy fluctuation permeated the air, resonating strongly with Li Xuan's spiritual perception, foreshadowing both danger and opportunity. Without much hesitation, Li Xuan and Mu Yang exchanged a glance and resolutely stepped through the door. The world before them suddenly shifted, darkness engulfing everything, as if they were in an endless abyss. A suffocating atmosphere enveloped them. Only scattered lights flickered in the distance, like will-o'-the-wisps, guiding them in the unknown. "Is this... the Infinite Flow Space?" Mu Yang's voice trembled slightly. He instinctively gripped the iron rod in his hand, cautiously scanning his surroundings. Li Xuan activated his mental perception, attempting to investigate the surroundings, but found a strange energy fluctuation permeating the area, interfering with his senses. He could only vaguely sense that countless dangers lurked within this darkness. After their eyes adjusted to the darkness, they found themselves in a vast plaza. In the center of the plaza stood a towering tower, its surface inscribed with complex runes, radiating a mysterious aura. Scattered throughout the plaza were various people, dressed in different clothes, their expressions wary, maintaining a distance from one another. The appearance of Li Xuan and Mu Yang immediately attracted the attention of those around them. They cast scrutinizing glances, as if assessing the strength of these two newcomers. A tense atmosphere hung in the air, as if conflict could erupt at any moment. "Looks like this place isn't friendly," Mu Yang murmured. Li Xuan nodded; he keenly sensed the hostility of the people here, willing to do anything for survival. Suddenly, a burly man blocked their path, his eyes fiercely fixed on them. "Newcomers? Hand over your supplies!" Li Xuan and Mu Yang exchanged a glance, a sense of unease rising within them. It seemed they were about to face their first conflict in this infinite flow space. Seeing their lack of reaction, the man grinned maliciously, raising his weapon and slashing fiercely at Li Xuan. Li Xuan dodged the attack, his broken sword flashing out like a venomous snake, aimed straight for the man's throat. "You're asking for death!" the man roared, swinging his weapon again at Li Xuan… Li Xuan's eyes were cold; he knew that in this cruel infinite flow space, mercy would only make him prey. Li Xuan dodged the attack, his broken sword flashing out like a venomous snake, aimed straight for the man's throat. The man was startled, clearly not expecting this seemingly frail youth to possess such agility. He hastily retreated, barely dodging the fatal blow. "Kid, you've got some skills!" The man licked his lips, his eyes flashing with even more ferocity. "But do you think you can escape my grasp like this?" The man attacked again, his moves fierce and ruthless, clearly the fighting style of a desperate criminal. Li Xuan fought and retreated, barely managing to fend off the man's attacks with his agile movements and precise swordsmanship. Mu Yang, meanwhile, waited for an opportunity, his iron rod poised to strike.

Seeing this, the others in the square crowded around, but no one offered help. Their cold eyes held a hint of excitement, as if they were watching a gladiatorial contest. The cruelty of the Infinite Flow Space was on full display here. Li Xuan and Mu Yang stood back to back, cautiously observing their surroundings. They discovered that everyone here was filled with hostility; many were already fighting each other upon meeting, vying for limited resources and a chance to survive. A sense of despair spread through them. "It seems we have to be careful," Li Xuan said to Mu Yang, panting heavily. Mu Yang nodded, his face grave. "These people are all desperate criminals." Just then, several men with sinister eyes stealthily approached them, carrying various weapons, clearly with ill intentions. They seemed to have identified Li Xuan and Mu Yang as easy targets and wanted to seize their supplies. As they drew near, Li Xuan's mental perception activated again. He felt a sharp pain, as if countless needles were piercing his brain. But he gritted his teeth and persevered, trying to detect the energy fluctuations around him. "Left, three people, with knives; right, two people, with sticks," Li Xuan quickly relayed the information he had sensed to Mu Yang. Upon hearing this, Mu Yang's eyes sharpened, and he prepared for battle. He held his iron rod horizontally in front of his chest, warily watching the approaching enemies. A tense atmosphere filled the air, like a taut string that could snap at any moment. Just as the two sides were about to clash, an aged voice suddenly rang out. "Stop!" An old man leaning on a cane slowly walked over. His body was hunched, but his eyes were exceptionally sharp. The old man was none other than Elder Zhou, whom they had seen earlier in the plaza—a veteran of the Infinite Flow Space. The men who had been so aggressive immediately changed their expressions upon seeing Elder Zhou. They all sheathed their weapons and bowed their heads respectfully. "Elder Zhou," one of the men said softly. Old Zhou glanced at them coldly. "What do you want?" "We...we just want to spar with these two newcomers," the man stammered. "Spar?" Old Zhou's tone was laced with sarcasm. "I think you want to steal their supplies, don't you?" The man didn't dare speak, only lowering his head, avoiding Old Zhou's gaze. Old Zhou's gaze shifted to Li Xuan and Mu Yang, his eyes filled with scrutiny. "Are you new here?" Old Zhou asked. Li Xuan nodded. "We just arrived." Old Zhou's gaze lingered on the broken sword in Li Xuan's hand for a moment. "This sword..." Li Xuan gripped the broken sword tightly, remaining silent. Old Zhou seemed to sense Li Xuan's wariness and smiled. "Don't be nervous, I mean no harm." He paused, then continued, "The Infinite Flow Space is a cruel place. Only the strong can survive here." Old Zhou's gaze shifted to the onlookers, his tone becoming stern. "You all remember this, even the newcomers. If you want to survive, you must abide by the rules here. If I see you bullying newcomers again, don't blame me..." Old Zhou didn't finish his sentence, but the threat in his tone sent chills down everyone's spine. The crowd gradually dispersed, and the square returned to calm. Old Zhou looked at Li Xuan, a complex light flashing in his eyes. "Young man, come with me." Li Xuan hesitated for a moment, but ultimately followed. He sensed that this old man seemed to be hiding many secrets... Old Zhou, leaning on his cane, walked unsteadily to Li Xuan, a wise light shining in his cloudy eyes. "Come with me," he said briefly, then turned and walked towards a dilapidated building at the edge of the square. Li Xuan and Mu Yang exchanged a glance and silently followed. At that moment, a woman in a white robe approached. She had long, flowing black hair, delicate features, and a gentle demeanor. She looked at Li Xuan and Mu Yang tenderly, her eyes filled with concern. "You two newcomers, be careful, it's dangerous here." Her voice was soft and melodious, like a spring breeze, bringing warmth. Li Xuan and Mu Yang were both taken aback. In this hostile and indifferent infinite flow space, this sudden concern made them feel somewhat uncomfortable. "Thank you," Li Xuan replied politely. The woman smiled. "My name is Sister Wu. If you need any help in the future, you can come to me." Li Xuan nodded, remembering the name. Sister Wu might be their first friend in the infinite flow space. Following Elder Zhou, they entered a dimly lit room. Several worn-out tables and chairs were placed in the room, and a musty smell permeated the air. Elder Zhou sat down in one of the chairs, gesturing for Li Xuan and Mu Yang to sit down as well. "The Infinite Flow Space is a place full of opportunities and dangers," Elder Zhou said slowly, his voice low and somber. "Here, you can gain immense power, or you can lose everything, even your life." He paused, then continued, "The rules of the Infinite Flow Space are simple: complete tasks and receive rewards. The difficulty of the task is directly proportional to the richness of the reward. However, if you fail a task, you will be punished. The punishment might be the loss of some abilities, or it might be death." Li Xuan listened intently, his mind racing, analyzing every word Elder Zhou spoke. He knew that in this cruel Infinite Flow Space, information was the key to survival. "Everyone who enters the Infinite Flow Space is given an initial level, that is, a beginner explorer. As the number and difficulty of completed tasks increase, the level will also increase. The higher the level, the more advanced the tasks you can receive, and the richer the rewards," Elder Zhou continued to explain. Li Xuan's eyes lit up. He realized that increasing his level was crucial. Only by increasing his level could he access higher-level information and find the truth behind the destruction of his sect more quickly. "So, how do we receive tasks?" Li Xuan asked. Old Zhou pointed to a black crystal ball in the corner of the room. "That's the mission publisher. You can choose suitable missions based on your level and abilities." Li Xuan and Mu Yang walked to the crystal ball and carefully observed the information on it. The crystal ball displayed all sorts of missions, from simple resource gathering to dangerous monster hunting. With his keen insight and analytical skills, Li Xuan quickly grasped the basic rules of the Infinite Flow Space and began to think about how to survive here and uncover the truth about his sect. He came up with some unique strategies, such as using his mental perception to foresee danger and cooperating with other explorers to complete missions. These ideas made Old Zhou nod in approval; this young man was indeed extraordinary. Sister Wu also came over and stood quietly to the side, listening intently. She looked at Li Xuan with admiration in her eyes.

"Alright, you all go and rest now. We'll officially begin the first challenge tomorrow," Old Zhou said.

Li Xuan and Mu Yang rose to say goodbye and left the room. On their way back, Li Xuan suddenly felt a chill, as if a pair of eyes were watching them intently in the darkness. He turned sharply, but saw nothing. Was it just his imagination? A sense of unease rose in Li Xuan's heart. What secrets were hidden behind those eyes? He instinctively gripped the broken sword in his hand… “Mu Yang,” Li Xuan stopped, “I feel…” “Mu Yang,” Li Xuan stopped, his sharp eyes scanning the dim corners around them, “I feel like we’re being watched.” Hearing this, Mu Yang immediately became alert. He drew his dagger from his waist, leaned against Li Xuan, and asked in a low voice, “Can you sense the other person’s location?” Li Xuan closed his eyes, concentrated, and activated his special ability—mental perception. After a moment, he opened his eyes, his brow furrowed. “The feeling is very vague. The other person seems to be hiding very well, but I’m certain they’re nearby.” The two dared not be careless and cautiously made their way back to their lodgings. Throughout the journey, Li Xuan continuously used his mental perception to try and glean more information about his pursuers, but to no avail. This feeling of being watched was unsettling, yet he was powerless to do anything about it. Back in his room, Li Xuan immediately told Elder Zhou about his experience. Elder Zhou's expression turned serious upon hearing this. "There are indeed some malicious individuals within the Infinite Flow Space. You must be careful," he said after a moment's thought. "Regarding the first challenge, I suggest you choose the 'Misty Forest.' Although this challenge isn't particularly difficult, it's the best way to understand the rules of the Infinite Flow Space and improve your own strength." Li Xuan and Mu Yang listened attentively to Elder Zhou's explanation and formulated detailed strategies based on their own circumstances. With his exceptional wisdom, Li Xuan quickly devised several ways to deal with the potential dangers in the Misty Forest. He even proposed a tactic combining fog and mental perception, which impressed Old Zhou, who exclaimed, "The younger generation is truly formidable! You're quite something, lad. Your wit and composure are something even I, an old man, would be ashamed of." Sister Wu listened quietly, her eyes filled with admiration. She was increasingly interested in Li Xuan's wisdom and abilities and eagerly anticipated their next move. Just as the three were discussing their strategy, Li Xuan suddenly felt the air around him grow cold, a strange sense of crisis washing over him. He instinctively gripped his broken sword, his eyes scanning every corner of the room warily. "What's wrong?" Mu Yang noticed Li Xuan's unusual behavior and asked with concern. Li Xuan didn't answer; he focused intently on sensing the changes around him, trying to find the source of this unease. Old Zhou also sensed the change in atmosphere. Leaning on his cane, he slowly stood up, a wise glint in his cloudy eyes. "Be careful..." Li Xuan only managed to utter two words...